Hobby 2000 72002 - 1:72 Beaufighter Mk. IF / Mk.IC

1:72 plastic model kit of the Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF / Mk.IC

Hobby 2000 72002 is a self-assembly model of the British Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter in its early Mk.IF and Mk.IC versions. The stocky fuselage, two powerful Hercules radials and the armament grouped in the lower nose give the aircraft a silhouette that stands out even in this small scale.

The kit is built on Hasegawa plastic with recessed panel lines and cleanly reproduced surface detail. Hobby 2000 has prepared its own waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf and added self-adhesive masks for the canopy and observer's glazing.

The four marking options cover Mk.IC aircraft of No. 272 Squadron RAF operating from Idku in Egypt in 1942, a captured example tested by the Italians at Guidonia, and Mk.IF night fighters of No. 25 Squadron RAF at Debden in 1940 and of No. 68 Squadron RAF in April 1942.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues (Hasegawa tooling)
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf for 4 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72002
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled model length: approx. 175 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 245 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The twin-engine Beaufighter calls for a little more care than a typical fighter in this scale. Most of the work goes into aligning the engine nacelles and seating the tail surfaces – it is worth dry-fitting these parts carefully before applying cement. The cockpit and observer's position are easiest to paint before the fuselage is closed up.

The schemes are strikingly varied: the Middle East aircraft carry desert camouflage over light undersides, while the home-based night fighters wear dark Fighter Command colours. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a satin varnish suits the final finish. The delicate radar aerials look best when replaced with fine wire or metal aftermarket parts, available separately in our shop.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out surface detail
• Gloss varnish for the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal softening solution

About the aircraft – Bristol Beaufighter:

The Bristol Beaufighter began as a private venture by Bristol, which reused the wings, tail and landing gear of the Beaufort torpedo bomber and added a completely new, short fuselage able to carry a heavy armament. The prototype flew on 17 July 1939 and the type reached squadrons a year later. Four 20 mm Hispano cannon in the lower fuselage made it one of the most heavily armed fighters of its day; in the fighter versions these were supplemented by six machine guns in the wings.

The roomy nose, free of an engine installation, proved to be an ideal home for the aerials and equipment of airborne interception radar. This made the Beaufighter the RAF's first genuinely effective night fighter and it played a key role during the night raids on Britain in the winter of 1940-41. In parallel, long-range versions were developed for Coastal Command for maritime patrol, anti-shipping strikes and convoy protection – roles it flew over the Mediterranean among other theatres. This kit covers two early versions of the aircraft: the Mk.IF night fighter, equipped with airborne interception radar and operating over Britain, and the Mk.IC – the Coastal Command long-range version that made its name over the Mediterranean. One of the marking options depicts a captured aircraft that was tested and flown by the Italians at Guidonia.

Original aircraft specifications (Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF):

• Length: 12.60 m
• Wingspan: 17.63 m
• Height: 4.83 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 9800 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and observer/radar operator)
• Powerplant: 2 x Bristol Hercules XI radial engines, approx. 1500 hp each
• Maximum speed: approx. 520 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 8800 m
• Armament: 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon in the fuselage; in the fighter version an additional 6 x 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings
• Range: approx. 2400 km
• Production: 1940-1945, approx. 5900 aircraft of all versions

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that specialises in themed releases of plastic model kits. Its business model is built on cooperation with established kit manufacturers – the Hobby 2000 catalogue features plastic originating from Hasegawa, Fujimi, Dragon, Academy and Revell moulds, among others. This particular kit uses Hasegawa plastic. The added value of a Hobby 2000 release comes from newly researched decal sheets, its own assembly instructions and – in most aircraft kits – self-adhesive canopy masks included in the box as standard. The company is known for consistently choosing subjects that are poorly covered by the large manufacturers, with a particular focus on Polish and Eastern European stories. Releases are produced in limited runs, so sold-out items can be hard to find later on. For the modeller this means proven, well-developed tooling combined with carefully researched history and a generous choice of markings.